Automatic weighing-machine



No. 607,468. Patented July 19, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

v (Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet l.

(N0 Model.)

[72 were 60 r:

.Yu: Nunrus Farms 00., FuoYauTuu. wAsumorou, u. c.

No. 607,468. Patented July [9, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.) (N0 Model.) 8 She efsSheei 2.

Fig.2.

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me NORRIS vznans cp. Pnproumc msnmmom c. c.

Patented luly l9, I898.

S D R A H C H H F 8 6 7 0 6 0 N AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application film Nov. 17, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Wfgmai:

@WMM" mfw THE NORRIS PETERS c0. FNDTQ-UTHO., WASNINGYON, n. c.

Patented July [9, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHlNE.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Wizieesses:

w: warns PETERS co; PHQYD-LITHO, WASHVNGTON, a. c

Patented July l9, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

Fig.6

haven (for:

THE nonms PETERS c0, vumouma. WASHINGYON. n c.

No. 607,468. Patented July 19, "398. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC wzuaume MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

- (No Model.)

[men (for:

Wiznesses THE Norms PETERS c0.. PHDTQLITHO WASNXNGYON. 0.1:,

No. 607,468. Patented July I9, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 fi/'nesses: Inwera 607':

THE Ncnms PETERS co. PHOTOLITHQ WASHKNGTON, n. c,

Patented July l9, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

71 5572 asses UNiTnD STATES FRANCIS ll. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC WElGHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 607,468,-dated July 19, 1898. Application filed November 17, 1897. Serial No. 658,848. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that LFRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic NVeighing-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic weighing-machines, one object of the invention bein g to furnish an improved weighing-machine especially adapted for automatically weighing and delivering predetermined loads of freely-running fluids su'ch as sugar-syrup, coal-oil, benzene, rte-and comprehending overload-supplying and load reducing and resupplying means constructed, organized, and operative whereby large loads of accurate predetermined weights may be made up and weighed by first delivering into the load-receiver an overload somewhat in excess of the proper amount to be weighed, then reducing the weight of the overload by discharging or removing the excess or surplus, and subsequently returning said surplus to form a portion of the next succeeding load.

A further object of the invention is to provide,in an automatic weighing-machine, two independent but cooperative valve mechanisms for controlling the supply of material to the load-receiver and for controlling the discharged material therefrom, respectively, and each of which mechanisms includes an expansile valve and actuating instrumentalities controlled by the weighing mechanism for first effecting a closing movement of. said valve and then expanding the same within the valve-chamber positively to prevent the accidental escape of material from said valve.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic rising-poise weighin g-m achine embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the weighing-inachineas seen from the left in Fig. 1, the parts of the machine being shown in the positions they occupy when the load-receiver is in its normal load-receiving position and the supply-valve is in its open position, the load-discharge valve being in this position of the parts blocked against opening movement. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the weighingmachine, taken on a line corresponding with the dotted line a a, Fig. 1, and shows the parts at the right of said line and in positions corresponding to the positions of like parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the weighing-machine as seen from the left in Fig. 1, the parts thereof being shown'in the positions they occupy when the load-receiver has descended below its poising-line and the loadreducing means is effective for discharging the surplus, the supply-valve being in its closed position andthe load-reducing valve being in its open position. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section, similar to Fig. 3, of that portion of the machine including the load reducing and resupplying means and illustrates the operation of the load reducing means. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 2, of the machine, showing the parts in the positions they occupy when the; load-receiver is in its truly-poised position and is discharging the weighed load. Fig. 7 isa central vertical section, similar to Fig. 3, showing the supply-valve in its closed position and the load-discharging valve in its open position. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the load receiver, showing the dischargevalve and its actuating mechanism in elevation. Fig. 9 is an interior detail view of a portion of the load-1'eeeiver,showing the loadreducing valve and a portion of its actuating device. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view, on a large scale, of a portion of the surplus-re ceiver, showing the plug-valve in connection therewith. Fig. 11 is an enlarged central vertical section of the supply-hopper and sup ply-valve, showing said valve in its elevated position. Fig. 12 is a plan view, partially in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged central vertical section of a port-ion of the discharge-valve shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 14 is an under side view, partially in section, of the valve shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a plan view of one of the thrust members for the expanding ring of the valve and ihe carrier therefor. Fig. 16 is an enlarged central vertical section of a portion of a slightly-modified form of the expansile valve, and Fig. 17 is an under side view of the same with the bottom plate removed.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

ny improvements being applicable to various types of automatic weighirig-machines, it is distinctly to be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular form of weighing-machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The framework for supportingthe fixed and operative parts of the weighing-machine may be of any suitable general construction, and it is shown comprising two side frames or uprights 2 and it, having a suitable base 3, which connects the lower ends of said frames and supports a conduit 3, into which the succe. sive loads may be discharged, said conduit being preferably formed. integral with the base The side frames 2 and 4: are shown connected at their upper ends by a top plate 5, which constitutes a support for the hopper or fluid-reservoir ll, which may be cast integral therewith.

The fluid-reservoir or hopperll, which con stitutes one element of the overload-supply means, is shown having at one side thereof a communicating supply-pipe t3 and is also shown having a vertically-disposed tulnilar discharge-conduit 7,which constitutes a chamber for the supply-valve, and said hopper also has a series of radhilly-disposed valve guides or wings S, the inner ends of which terminate flush with the inner face of the valve-chamher, and supported for reciprocatory movements in the su1i ply hopper and between the inner ends of the radial guides is an expansile supply-valve,(designated in a general way by V,) the construction, organization, and operation of which will be hereinafter fully described.

Forlimiting theadvancing or closing stroke of the valve V the valve-chamber preferably has upon the interior thereof a series of stopabutments 9, preferably four in number, dis posed equidistantly about the interior of the discharge-comluit '7, and which abutments, while constituting a support for the valve when in its closed position, allow a free discharge of the material between them when the valve is in its open position.

The bucket or load-receiver, which is des ignated in a general. way by G, is shown of the single-ehambered type,supported with its receiving end below and in position to reeeive material from the supplyhopper. Said load-receiver is shown cylindrical fora greater portion of its length and has a conical bottom portion 1U, which terminates in a tubular dischargeconduit 12 of smaller diameter, which conduit has its extreme lower end flared, as shown in the accompanying drawings.

To facilitate the removal of the surplus from the lozul-receiver at one point in the length of said receiver and for resupplying the material to said. receiver at another point in the length thereof, said. receiver is [urnished with two conduits 13 and ill, one olf which, as 13, may be termed. the discharge conduit and constitutes one element of the load-reducing means, and the other oi. which, as 1-1, may be termed the return-condoit and constitutes one element of the resupply means. The discharge-mluit is shown tubular and communicates with the interior of the load-receiver near the upper end thereof, and the return-conduit 1-.|: is shown somewhat in the nature of a hopper commnnicating with the valve-chamber 12 of the lozul-recciver.

For supporting the lo:ulreeeiver any suit able type of beam mechanism maybe employed, that shown in the drawings consist-- ing of a scale-beam B of. usual COILSlL'LlQtiOH, including a pair of parallel beam -arms joined together at their outer ends by a tubular coun terweight 'W, the said beam-arms being pro vided at their inner ends with knife-edges l and 15, on which are supported knife-edge bearings 10 and 16, secured to l.n'acl el;-:-; ll" and 17, fixed to opposite side walls, res eetively, of the load-receiver, each beam-arm also having intermediate the poisiug and counterweighted ends thereof. a knife-edge pivot 18, supported. on a 'knilie-edge l.)earing 19, carried by a bracket 20 on the side frame.

The closer for the load reeeiver in the present instance is shown as a vertical reciprocatory expansile valve, (designatei'l in a genoral way by V,) which. will. for C(HlYO-llltlllti) be hereinafter referred to as the discharge valve.

The si'lpply-valve for controlling the supply of material from the hopper or reservoir [l to the load-receiver is shown consisting, essentially, of two valve members 2i and 2;, one of which is carried by andy is shiftable trans versely of the plane of movement of the other. The member 21 of the valve consists of a tubular stem 21., having at the lower end there of a diametrically-enlarged axially-reoessed. valve body or head 2i, which is cylindrical and constitutes a housing for expanding deviceshereinafterdescribed. The othermember 22,whieh constitutes the expansile member of. the valve, is shown as a ring, which may be constructed of rubber or other llexible material, supported in a eircumfcrtmtial groove in the valve-body ill near the lower end thereof. This valve V is shown sup ported forreciprocatory movement in thesup-- ply-hopper disclutrgeconduit or val .'c-chamher 7 and is intended to be opened byan upward lilOVOlllOllii thereof against the pressure of the fluid contained in the supply hopper or reservoir and to be closed by a downward movement by its own gravity and the weight of material resting on the main body of the valve.

Asa means for elevating the valve T, l have provided a valve-actuator,which, in the form thereof shown in the accompz'lnying drawings,

ICC

' tight joint between the valve and valve-chamber and preclude the possibility of accidental escape of fluid from the supply-hopper through the discharge conduit or spout 7, I have provided in operative connection with the expansile ring 22 an expanding device which, in the preferred form thereof shown in Figs.3,1l,and 12,comprises a radially-divided expanding ring 27, disposed within and bearing against the inner face of the expansile ring 22,'an expander-rod or thrust-rod 28, extending through and supported for reciprooatory movement in the valve-stem 21, a series of radially-disposed thrust members 29, extending through guideways 29, formed in the side wall of the valve-body and bearing at their outer ends against the expanding-ring segments 27, and a thrust-member actuator 30,fixed to the lower end of the expanding-rod 28 and operable on one movement of said rod for imparting a ring-expanding movement to said thrust members 29.

In the construction and organization thereof shown in Figs. 3, 11, and 12 the thrust-member actuator is shown having radially-disposed arms 30, to which the inner ends of the thrust members 29 are pivotally connected, whereas in Figs. 16 and 17 the thrust-member actuator is shown as a conical member or wedge, against which the inner ends of the thrust members bear and which on a movement of the expanding-rod forces the thrust members outward radially to expand the expanding ring 22.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particularconstruction andorganizationof valve nor to the particular construction and organization of expanding instrumentalities il1ustrated in the drawings, as these may be variously modified without departure from this invention.

As a convenient means for actuating the expanding device the rock'shaft 25 is shown furnished with a rocker-arm 31, which is fixedly connected at one end of said shaft and is pivotal] y secured at its opposite end to the upper end of the expander-rod 28, as shown most clearly in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and for the purpose of facilitating a retractive movement of the expanding device slightly in advance of the retraetive movement of the valve V the rocker-arm 26. has at the inner end thereof a stud 26, which extends into an elongated slot 26 in-the upper end of the valve-stem 21, the slot being of sufficient length to permit the expander-rod to be elevated by the rocker-arm 31 a short distance before the crank-arm becomes effective for elevating the valve V.

By the construction and organization of valve and expanding instrumentalities hereinbefore described it will be seen that on the gravitative or closing movement of the valve the expanding device will remain in its ringretracting position and be carried downward with the valve until said valve is arrested in its closing movement by the stop-abutments 9, after which a continued movement of the rocker arm 31, in connection with the expander-rod 28, willLimpart a further descending movement to said rod and through the medium of the thrust members 29, in connection therewith, expand the ring 22, bringing the outer face thereof into tight engagement with the inner face of the discharge-conduit '7, as will be readily apparent by a comparison of Figs. 3 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

The shaft 25 of the valve-actuator is furnished with a counterweighted arm 32 for normally exerting a downward stress upon the valve V and the expanding device.

The closer or discharge-valve V is shown substantially of the same general construction as the valve V, hereinbefore described, and therefore a detailed description of this valve is deemed unnecessary. This valve V5 is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movements in the discharge-conduit 12 on the loadreceiver, the valve-stem thereof being supported near its upper end in a bearing 33 on a cross-piece secured to the load-receiver on the interior thereof. This valve, in contradistinction to the valve V, hereinbefore described, is opened on the descending movement thereof and is closed on the ascending movement thereof.

As a convenient means for actuating the valve V and its expanding device I have provided, in operative connection therewith, a

valve-closing actuator, which, in the pre-' ferred form thereof shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, and 7 of the drawings, comprises a rock-shaft 34, journaled in bearings at the upper end of the load-receiver, two rockerarms 35 and 36, fixed to said rock-shaft, and two links 37 and 38, one of which, as 37, is of greater length than the other and is pivotal] y connected at one end to the rocker-arm 35 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the valve-stem, and the other link 38 of which is pivotally connected at one end to the expander-rod of the valve V and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the rocker arm 36, said shaft 34 having a weighted arm 39 fixed thereto for normally exerting avalveclosing stress upon the actuator.

The construction and organization of the dischargevalve-closing actuator and its connections with the valve and expanding device thereof are such that an ascending or closing movement will be first imparted to the valve and then the expansible ring will be expanded, and on the opening movement of said valve the expansion thereof will take place in advance of the descending or opening movement of said valve.

l ixedly supported on a suitable bracket 4-0 of the framework between the dischargeconduit 13 and the return-eomluit l-i oi said receiver is a surplus-receiver G, which surplus-receiver is shown smaller than, but similar in general. construction to, the loadre eeiver G. This stn'plus-receivor is shown having a transverse valve-seat in the discharge end thereol, in which is seated an oscillatory plug-valve Y having a duct t? for lacilitating the discharge of material from said re cciver into the return-conduit 14-, said receiver constituting another element of the resupplying means.

As a convenient means for simultaneously actuating the supply-valve V and the plugvalve V and for controlling the operations of these valves by the weighing mechanism I have provided in connection with the shaft of the supply-valve actuator and the shaft 43 of the plug-valve V crank-arms it and 4:5, respectively, which arms are operatively connected by an actuator to, said actuator being pivotally connected at its upper end to the era11lc-arm ll and at its lower end to the crank-arm l5 and having intermediate the ends thereof an offset portion 417, constituting an abutment, which is disposed inthe path of movement of a valve-actuating lover or auxiliary beam 13, carried by the beam 1:3 in the usual manner, the construction and organization of the actuator or actuating-eonnector 416 and the beam 13 being such that when the supply-valve is in its open position (shown in Fig. 23) and the load-receiver is in its elevated load-receiving position the olli'set portion 4-? of the actuator ii) will rest upon the poising end of the counterweighted actuating-beam B, and will, on the descending movement of the load-receiver, descend with the poising end of the beam, permitting the weighted lever of the supply-valve actuator to impart a closing movement to the supplyvalve and simultaneously a closing movement to the plug-valve V of the surplus-receiver G.

As a means for blocking the opening movement of the supply-valve V when the discharge-valve V is in its open position and for also blocking the valve-opening movement of the beam 13, I have provided in operative connection with the supply-valve actuator and discharge-valve actuator two reciprocallyelfeetive stop members 3 and s, respectively, the one s of which is carried by the rock-shaft 25 and. is located in position to engage the stop member s when the supply-valve is closed and the discharge-valve is opened and is adapted to prevent an opening movement of said valve until the load in the load-receiver G is completely discharged and the discharge-valve has returned to its normal closed position, the stop member s" bc'ng carried by the rock-shaft iii of the dise'har valve actuator.

Asa means for normally locking the discharge-valve against opening movement I have provided a counterweiglited latch 'L, which is pivotally supported on the loath-eeeiver and normally engages a projection on the stop members, and as aeonvenient means for actuating the closer-latch at a predeter mined point in the movement of. the l.oa fl-rcceiver to facilitate an opening movement of the discharge-valve l have provided. a latch tripper -18, pivotally supported on the loadrecci ver, and a lateh-tripper actuator ill, lixed to a part of the framework elf the machine in position for actuating the latclrtrippcr at a predetermined point in the ascending movementoftheload-receiver. 'lhislatclntripper 4-8 is shown as an anglelever, one arm oil which isin posit-ion to engage an arm on and trip the latch and the other arm of which is in position to strike the trippe1.'aetuato r all] on the arrival of the loiul-receiver in its ascending movement at its truly-poised position.

As a convenient means for controlling the discharge of the surplus'from the load-recei vcr I have provided a loadreducing valve l, (shown as a reciprocatory valve,) supported in a guiiileway 50 on the inner face oi the front wall of the load-receiver and in jllXiJitPOSlhltHl to the entrant end of the surplus-disehargc conduit 13, said. valve being shittablc across and being adapted for covering the entrant end of said conduit. l have also provided, in connection. with said valve Y, an actuator operative at a predetermined point in the do scending movement of the load-receiver for elevating the valve Y to allow the sin-plus material to llow through the conduit 13 into the surplus -receiver G. This actuator is shown comprising a'rocleshaft 51, supported in suitable bearings on. brackets on the loadreceiver, a crank-arm 52, lived. at its outer end to said rocleshalt, and a link 51.), pivotally connected at its upper end to the inner end of said crank-arm and pivotally connected at its lower end to the valve "V A valve-opening movement is imparted to the actuator of the valve V by means of a fixture on the framework, disposed in position to engage and lift said valve-actuator at a predotermined point in the descending movement of the load-receiver, said valve being preterably closed by gravity.

The discharge-valve V is so disposed within the loznl-reeeiver that when the load-rcceiver is in its closed position the expanding ring will cover the diseharge-opening oi. the retnrn-coiuluit let.

.ll'aving described. my invention, 1 claim--- l. The combination, with weighing llltli'ilanism including a recip roeattn'y load-receive r, of stream-supplying means including an. expansile valve, and valve closing and 'UXPitlltir' ing means automatically controlled by the weighing mechanism and eilfeetive at predc ITO termined definite points in the movements of the load-receiver for first closing and then expanding said valve.

2. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory load-receiver, of a piston-valve embodying a divided expanding ring, and independent instrumentalities automatically con trolled by the Weighing mechanism and effective one for closing the valve at one point in the movement of the load-receiver, and the other for expanding the ring at another point in the movement of the load-receiver.

3. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory loadreceiver having a discharge-valve and a dischargevalve-shutting actuator, of stream-supplying means embodying a reciprocatory valve having a diametrically-expansible ring; automatically-operable means controlled by the weighing mechanism for first closing the valve and then expanding the ring; and means operated by the closer, on the closing movement thereof, for controlling the contraction of the expanding ring and the opening movement of the valve.

4. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory load-receiver and with a supply-hopper having a valvechamber, of an expansile piston-valve supported for reciprocatory movements in said chamber, and two successively-effective devices automatically operative at predetermined points in the reciprocatory movements of the load-receiver for first advancing and subsequently expanding, and next contracting and subsequently retracting, said valve.

5. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory load-receiver and with a supply-hopper, of two expansile valves in cooperative relation with, and effective for closing the outlets of, the hopper and receiver, respectively, and one of which is controlled in one of its movements by the other, and automatically operative means controlled by the weighing mechanism at predetermined points in the movements thereof for effecting a closing and expanding movement of one valve and a contracting and openingmovement of the other valve in successive order.

6. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory load-receiver and with a supply-hopper, of a piston-valve supported in said hopper and having a divided expanding ring for closing the outlet of said hopper; a counterweight-ed valve-advancing actuator including means for operating the valve and ring, one slightly in advance of the other; means operative at a predetermined point in the movement of the load-receiver for effecting a movement of said valve-advancing actuator; and aseat for arresting the advancing movement of said valve. V

7. The combination, with weighing mechanism including beam mechanism, a load-receiver, and a supply-hopper, of an expansile valve comprising a carrier and an expanding device movable in relatively-transverse planes; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for operating the carrier and expanding device one in advance of the other, and comprising a rock-shaft journaled in the hopper and having two rocker-arms movably connected with the carrier and expanding device, respectively; and an actuator operatively connecting the rock-shaft and a mcmber of the beam mechanism.

8. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, 'of overloadsupplying means including a reciprocatory expansile valve; load-reducing means includin g a surplus-receiver having an oscillatory plug-valve; an actuator in direct connection with the expansile valve and plugvalve and operative, at a predetermined point in the movement of the weighing mechanism, for effecting opening and closing movements of said valves concurrently; and means effective, on the closure of the expansile valve, for expanding said valve.

9. The combination, with oscillatory beam mechanism and with a load receiver supported thereon, of stream-supplying means including a valve; valve-reducing means in connection with the load-receiver; a surplusreceiver fixedly supported at one side the loadreceiver in operative relation with the loadreducing means, and embodying a valve; and a valve-actuator directly connecting the two valves and having an oifset portion disposed in the path of movement of one member of the beam mechanism, whereby the two valves will be operated concurrently.

10. A weighing-machine comprehending oscillatory beam mechanism; two receivers set side by side and one of which is carried by the beam mechanism and the other of which is fixedly supported; a vertically-reciprocatory expansile valve disposed to close the discharge-opening of one of said receivers; a plug-valve seated for oscillatory movement in the discharge end of the other receiver and having its axis in a horizontal plane; means controlled by the weighing mechanism and effective for first reciprocating the expansile valve and for expanding and contracting the same intermediate the closing and opening movements thereof; overload-supplying means including a supply-controlling valve; and means operatively connecting the supplycontrolling valve and plug-valve, and effective, on the closing movement of the expansile valve, for imparting opening movements to the stream-controlling valve and plugvalve.

ll. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having a discharge-opening and a supply-hopper having a discharge-opening, of two expansile piston-valves for closing the discharge-openings of the load-receiver and supply-hopper, respectively, and each comprising an axially recessed carrier and a rzulially-divided expanding ring; a flexible ring surrounding they expanding ring; an expander-rod extending through each carrier; a series of radiall 'disposed. thrust members operativcly connecting the lower end of each carrier and each divided expanding ring, and so disposed that on one nmvementof the expander-rod an ex panding movement will be imparted to said expanding ring; independent valve-actuators controlled by the weighing mechanism and each including a rocleshafthaving two rockerarms in operative connection with the carrier andexpander-rod, respectively, and effective for operating one in advance of the other; and interlocking instrumentalities between said actuators and effective for alternately blocking the valve -opening movements of each other alternately.

12. The combination, with weighing mechanism incliulinga reei 'n'ocatory load-receiver, ot' ovcrload-su mlying means including a supply-hopper having a vertically-reelproeatory piston-valve adapted for closing the outlet of said hopper; load-reducing means including a lixcdly-supported surplus-receiver having an oscillatory valve; a valve-aetuator directly connecting said two valves and actuated by a member of the weighing mechanism at predetermined points in the movements of the load-receiver for .imparting a reciprocatory movement to one valve and an oscillatory movement to the other valve concurrently.

f 3. The combination, with a supply-hopper having a vcrtically-disposed tubular valvechamber and also having internal radiallydisposed valve-guides, of atubular valve supported between the inner ends of said guides forreciproeatory movement, and having a cireum lerent ial groove; an expansile ring seated in said groove; a radially-divided expanding ring bearingagainst the inner face of said expansile ring; an expandeurod supported for reeiprocatory movement in the valve-stem; radially-disposed thrust members in operativc connection with the expander-rod and expanding ring and effective, on the movements of the expander-rod, for actuating the expanding ring to expand or contract the expansile ring; and oscillatory actuating means in operative connection with the expai'ider-rod and valve and effective for imparting to one a movement slightly in advance of the other.

ill. The combination, with weighingmechanism including a load-receiver and with a su iply-hopper having a vertically-disposed valve-chamber, of an axially-reeessed cylindrical valve-bodyhaving a eircumiferentiallydisposed. ri rig-receiving groove and an axiallyrecesscd stem; an expansile ring seated in said groove; a divided expanding ring in operative ergagement with the inner face of the cxpausile ring; .radiallydisposed thrustrods hearing at their outer ends against the inner face of the expanding ring; an expander or thrust rod si'ipported for reciprocatory movement in the valve and embodying means for actuating the radial thrust members to expand, and permit the contractitm of, the expansile ring; and means controlled by the weighing mechanism. for eil'ectiug opening and closing movements of the valve, and for imparting reeiprocatory movements to the expand ing rod.

15. The combination, with a load-receiver having a discharge-opening, of an axiallyaeeesscd cylindrical. valve-body having a circumiferential ring-receiving groove; an axi ally-recessed stem; a flexible ring seated. in said eircun'iferential groove; a divided expanding ring bearing against the inner face of the llexible ring; radiztllydisposed thrust members bearing at their outer ends against the inner face of the ex 'iz'inding ring; an expander-rod extending through, and supper-trial for reciprocatory movement in, the valvestem and embodying means foractuating the radial thrust members to force the parts of the ex1')a1'1ding ring inward and outward. to expand and contract the flexible ring; and means in connection with, and elletdivt: for imparting rcciprocattn-y movements t o, the valve and expandenrod, one slightly in advance of the other.

16, The combination, with weighingmeele anism including a reciprocatory lmnlreceiver having a dischz'irge-opening and with supply-hopper having a discharge-opening, of two expansile valves supported for reciprocatory movements in. parallel plamn; and in operative relation, respectively, with the discharge ends of the load-receiver and supplyhopper; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for effecting opening and closing movements of the two valves in alternating order, and comprehending instrrnnentalities lOO for expanding said valves on the closing movements thereof; a disehargc-eonduit and a 'returneonduit located the former above the latter and communicating with the intc rior of the load-receiver; a gravitative reci r rocatory valvein operative relation with, and effective for closing the opening of, the discl'iarge-ehute; a surplus-receiver lixedly supported at one side of the loznl-receiver be tween the discharge and return conduits, and having an oscillatory plug-valve journaled therein; an actuating-conhector between. the plug-valve of the surplus-receiver and the expansile valve of the supply-hopper, and operable on the opening and closing movements of said. hopper-valve for im 'ntrting si multaneouslyopeningandclosingmovements to the surplus-recciver valve; and means controlled by the load-receiver, on its descending movement, for imparting an opening movement to the valve of the dischargechute.

F. trxNtllrl ll.

lr'itnesses:

F. N. tlnxsu, Jena 0. Hnn nn'r.

lilt l l ARMS, 

